U.S. patent number 4,714,337 [Application Number 06/937,476] was granted by the patent office on 1987-12-22 for safety means for process kit.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Shinji Kanemitsu, Morikazu Mizutani, Fumio Nishino, Akihiro Nomura, Shigeyoshi Onoda, Mototada Toriumi.
United States Patent |
4,714,337 |
Nishino , et al. |
December 22, 1987 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Safety means for process kit
Abstract
Various components of image-forming means such as corona
discharger, developing device and cleaning means are arranged
around a photosensitive drum. These processing parts and the
photosensitive drum are assembled together into a unit which can be
detachably mounted into the main body of image-forming apparatus.
Such a unit is called process kit. The process kit is provided with
a driving connection member for receiving a driving force from the
main body. The present invention provides safety means for
effectively protecting said driving connection member from shock
and impact thereby assuring the utility of the process kit for a
long time.
Inventors: |
Nishino; Fumio (Tokyo,
JP), Onoda; Shigeyoshi (Yokohama, JP),
Nomura; Akihiro (Kawasaki, JP), Mizutani;
Morikazu (Tokyo, JP), Kanemitsu; Shinji
(Ichikawa, JP), Toriumi; Mototada (Yokohama,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
27460124 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/937,476 |
Filed: |
December 2, 1986 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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849185 |
Apr 7, 1986 |
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450210 |
Dec 16, 1982 |
4591258 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 22, 1981 [JP] |
|
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56-208489 |
Mar 5, 1982 [JP] |
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57-35626 |
May 14, 1982 [JP] |
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57-81763 |
May 17, 1982 [JP] |
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57-82649 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
399/90;
399/111 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G
21/1864 (20130101); G03G 21/1871 (20130101); G03G
2221/1651 (20130101); G03G 2221/183 (20130101); G03G
2221/1657 (20130101); G03G 2221/166 (20130101); G03G
2221/1678 (20130101); G03G 2221/1654 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G03G
21/18 (20060101); G03G 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;355/3DR,3R,3CH,14R,3BE,3DD,8,16 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Prescott; A. C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper &
Scinto
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 849,185
filed Apr. 7, 1986, now abandoned, which in turn is a division of
application Ser. No. 450,210, filed Dec. 16, 1982, now U.S. Pat.
No. 4,591,258.
Claims
What we claim is:
1. A process unit mountable into and demountable from a main
assembly, comprising:
an image bearing member rotatable about a rotational axis
thereof;
process means actable on said image bearing member;
a casing for supporting said process means and for rotatably
supporting said image bearing member;
a member for receiving a rotational drive force from the main
assembly to rotate said image bearing member when said unit is
mounted in the assembly;
an electrically conductive member provided at the rotational axis
of said image bearing member, for sliding contact with an
electrically conductive member of said main assembly to
electrically connect said conductive shaft with the conductive
member of the main assembly.
2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said image bearing member
is a photosensitive member, and wherein said process means includes
a charger.
3. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said drive force receiving
means is integral with said image bearing member and is provided
with a recess with which a rotatable projection of the main
assembly is engageable.
4. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said unit is provided,
adjacent the rotational axis, with a coupling portion for coupling
with a member of said main assembly to correctly position said
process unit, when it is mounted in the main assembly.
5. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said process unit is
insertable into the main assembly in a direction in which the
rotational axis of said image bearing member extends, and said
electrically conductive shaft of said process unit is adjacent a
leading end thereof in the direction of the insertion.
6. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said coupling portion is
formed in said drive force receiving member.
7. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said drive force receiving
means is engageable with a member in the main assembly for
transmitting the rotational drive force to said process means.
8. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said conductive member is
effective electrically to ground said image bearing member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process kit containing a
photosensitive drum and processing means arranged around the
photosensitive drum as a unit. The process kit can be detachably
mounted in the main body of image-forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a long use of image-forming apparatus, for example, a copying
machine employing the well-known electrophotographic process,
various maintenance works are required which include exchange of
the photosensitive medium, supply or exchange of developer,
cleaning of charging wires, and adjustment and repair of functional
parts etc. Until now these maintenance works have usually been done
by a special service man. However, in order to keep the copying
machine always in a good state for operation, there have been
proposed some methods which enables the maintenance work to be done
without the aid of a special service man. One of the methods is to
prepare a process kit by assembling some essential components of
the copying apparatus such as corona discharger, developing device
and photosensitive drum together into a unit. According to the
method, the maintenance can be done by the user himself in a simple
manner by replacing the used kit by new one. As a further
development of this idea it has been proposed also to prepare
different types of process kits which are exchangeably used in one
and the same main apparatus according to the purpose for which the
user intends to use the apparatus. Obviously this broadens the
function of the apparatus because one and the same apparatus can be
used for different purposes while changing the type of the process
kit from one to another.
Although the use of such easily detachable or exchangeable process
kits have many merits in the utility and maintenance of the
apparatus, there may be produced some problem in the user's
handling of the kit. Such a process kit is usually provided with a
driving connection part provided thereon through which the kit is
connected to the main body of the copying apparatus and through
which the driving force is transmitted to the photosensitive drum
from the main body. If the driving connection part is damaged by
shock and impact, it is rendered unable to normally transmit the
driving force to the photosensitive drum. Thereby the quality of
images is reduced. In the worst case, the rotation center of the
photosensitive drum is dislocated and rendered eccentric, so that
it is no longer possible to obtain sharp and clear images. When the
process kit is handled by the user, the possibility of damage is
not small. In demounting the kit from the main machine or in
carrying it after demounting, the man may strike the driving
connection part against any rigid body such as desk, wall, pillar
or floor. This is an important problem involved in the use of
process kit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the general object to solve the problem of
damage to the process kit detached from the main apparatus.
A more specific object of the invention is to provide means for
effectively protecting the driving connection part of the process
kit against damage.
Another object of the invention is to prevent the driving
connection part from being damaged by external shock and also to
prevent the center axis of the rotating photosensitive drum from
being deviated thereby preventing the reduction of image
quality.
Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention
will appear more fully from the following description.
To attain the objects according to the invention there is provided
a process kit attachable to and detachable from the main
image-forming apparatus which includes a photosensitive drum, image
formation processing means arranged around the drum, a frame for
supporting the photosensitive drum and said processing means and a
driving connection member as described above. On the same surface
of the frame on which the connection member is provided, there are
provided projections arranged around the connection member. The
projections project outward beyond the level of the connection
member so that the connection member is protected by the
projections against external impact.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an electrophotographic copying
machine in which a process kit according to the invention is
used;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the process kit showing the
structure on the inner side surface of the kit;
FIG. 3 illustrates the manner of mounting of the process into the
main apparatus;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the copying machine showing the
driving power transmission system on the side of the main body;
FIG. 5A is a partial sectional view showing the driving connection
member of the process kit during the connection to the main
apparatus and FIG. 5B is a view similar to FIG. 5A showing the
driving connection member after the start of operation;
FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view, partly broken away, showing
the transmission of driving force in the process kit;
FIGS. 7 and 8 are front views showing two different examples of the
arrangement of projections around the driving connection
member;
FIG. 9 is a side view of the process kit dropped down on the floor;
and
FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the process kit showing an
embodiment of the arrangement of projections the driving connection
member according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to FIGS. 1 through 4 wherein FIG. 1 shows a copying
machine with a process kit according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a
perspective view of the process kit, FIG. 3 illustrates the manner
of mounting of the process kit in the copying machine and FIG. 4
shows the copying machine after the removal of the process kit from
the main body of the copying machine.
The copying machine includes an original carriage 1 formed of a
transparent member such as a glass plate which is normally covered
with a cover member 0. An original D is placed on the original
carriage 1 and the carriage is reciprocally moved in the direction
of arrow a along rails R by means of a driving mechanism known per
se. The original D on the moving original carriage 1 is illuminated
by a lamp L and the reflected image of the original is projected on
a photosensitive drum 3 through an array of small image-forming
elements having short focal lengths designated by 2. The
photosensitive drum 3 is uniformly precharged by a corona charger
4. As the result of the above image-wise exposure through the
image-forming element array 2 there is formed an electrostatic
latent image on the uniformly precharged surface of the drum 3. The
latent image is then visualized by a developing device 5 which has
a developing electrode roller 5a with the rotation of which toner
is applied onto the drum surface. The developed image is
transferred to a transfer sheet from the drum surface. The transfer
sheet is manually fed from a transfer sheet supply tray 22 toward
the nip between a pair of paper feed rollers 6. Through the paper
feed rollers 6 and then a pair of registering rollers 7 the
transfer paper is fed into the area of the drum 3 where the toner
image is transferred to the transfer sheet from the drum under the
action of a transfer charger 8. After transferring the transfer
sheet is separated from the drum surface and guided to a fixing
device 10 by a guide 9. The toner image is fixed on the transfer
sheet by the fixing device. After completing the fixing, the
transfer paper is discharged onto a discharged paper tray 12 from
the machine by a paper discharge roller 11. On the other hand,
after transferring, the photosensitive drum 3 enters the cleaning
station where the remaining toner on the drum surface is removed
off by a cleaning means 13.
In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 3, charger 4,
developing device 5 and cleaning means 13 are assembled together
into a unit. The unit is supported on a frame 24 so as to form a
detachable process kit 14 as seen best in FIG. 2. However, it is to
be understood that the members which are to be assembled together
into a process kit are never limited to those shown in the above
only. Many embodiments of the process kit are possible in the light
of the above teachings.
16 is a mounting plate for the image-forming element array 2. 18 is
a recessed portion formed in the frame 24. 19 is an opening
provided in the recessed portion 18 of the frame 24. The position
of the opening 19 corresponds to the array 2.
In this embodiment, the process kit 14 shown in FIG. 2 is inserted
into the main body of the copying machine in the direction of arrow
A and in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 2
the frame 24 of the process kit has a side plate 24e on the
inner-most side of the kit as viewed in the direction of insertion.
On the outer-most side opposite to the inner side plate 24e, the
frame has a side plate 24f provided with a hand grip 24c for
drawing out the process kit from the main body of the copying
machine as shown in FIG. 3. On the inner side plate 24e there are
provided a driving connection means 25 composed of a disk-like
member 29, a voltage connection part including connectors 26 and
27, and a stopper pin 28.
After mounting the process kit in the main body C of the copying
machine, the driving connection part 25 transmits a rotating force
from the main body C to the photosensitive drum 3 in the manner as
will be described later in detail. The connector 26 of the voltage
connection part transmits a voltage from the main body C to the
corona charger 4. The connector 27 transmits a voltage from the
main body to the developing electrode roller 5a. The stopper pin 28
prevents any rotation of the process kit 14 after mounting. As seen
best from FIG. 2, the driving connection part and the voltage
connection part are on the same plane of the side plate 24e and
arranged in the same orientation. The connector pins 26a and 27a of
the connectors 26 and 27 are enclosed with connector walls 26b and
27b respectively. The connectors 26 and 27 are located in the
vicinity of the driving connection part 25 and arranged opposed to
each other with the driving connection part 25 therebetween. The
connectors project outwardly beyond the level of the driving
connection part 25. The position of the connector 27 on the frame
24 corresponds to the position of the developing device 5 whereas
the position of the connector 26 corresponds to the corona charger
4. The driving connection part 25 composes a disk 29 rotatably
mounted on the side plate 24e for rotation together with the
photosensitive drum 3. The disk 29 has three slots 29a, 29b and 29c
provided for the purpose as will be described hereinunder.
The manner of connection of the process kit 14 with the main body C
at the above-mentioned driving connection part and the voltage
connection part will be described hereinafter with reference to
FIGS. 4 and 5.
In FIG. 4 showing the copying machine in the position after
demounting the process kit, 30 is a gear in mesh with a drum gear
31 and M is a motor. The rotation of the motor M is transmitted to
the gear 30 through a suitable transmission such as a gear train or
chain (not shown) so that the drum gear 31 is rotated by the gear
30 driven by the motor. On the drum gear 31 there is provided a
driver pin 32 engageable with the driving connection part 25. More
particularly, the driver pin 32 is so positioned as to engage in
any one of the above-mentioned slots 29a, 29b, 29c formed in the
disk 29. Through the engagement of the pin 32 with the disk 29, the
rotating force can be transmitted to the photosensitive drum 3 from
the main body C.
33 is a drum gear shaft which serves to position the process kit 14
in the direction for insertion and also serves as an electrode for
keeping the drum 3 at ground potential. 34 is a high voltage
connector provided on the main body's side to apply a high voltage
to the corona charger 4. 35 is also a high voltage connector
provided to apply a developing bias voltage to the developing
roller 5a of the developing device 5.
FIGS. 5A and 5B show the manner of engagement of the driver pin 32
on the drum gear 31 with the driving connection part 25.
In mounting the process kit 14 in the main body C of the copying
machine, the user first places the slide portions 24a and 24b of
the process kit 14 on the rails 15 and 17 (FIGS. 1 and 4) in the
main body C and then inserts the kit 14 into the main body C along
the rails until the disk 29 on the inner side plate of the kit
abuts against the free end of the driver pin 32 on the main body C.
The pin 32 is under the spring force of a leaf spring 32 which
intends to press the enlarged base end portion of the pin against
the back surface of the drum gear 31. When the free end of the pin
32 is pushed by the disk of the inserted process kit 14, the pin 32
is slightly moved backward against the force of the leaf spring 37
as shown in FIG. 5A. In this position, the free end 33a of the drum
gear shaft 33 is received in the center bore 29d of the disk 29 and
in contact with the bottom of the bore 29d. Thus, the positioning
of the process kit 14 is completed. After completing the
positioning of the inserted process kit 14 in the main body C, the
kit is finally locked in the determined position by locking means
(not shown) provided on the main body C at the kit inlet portion.
When the kit 14 reaches the determined position in the main body,
the connectors 27 and 26 on the kit are also connected with the
high voltage connectors 35 and 34 on the main body
respectively.
In the position shown in FIG. 5A, the user can switch on the power
source or the copy start button (not shown) of the machine. With
the switch-ON, the drum gear shaft 33 starts rotating and therefore
the pin 32 is moved together with the drum gear. In the course of
this movement, the pin encounters one of the three slots 29a, 29b,
29c formed on the disk 29 and the pin engages in the slot which the
pin first encountered (in the shown case it is the slot 29a). The
position of the pin 32 after engaging in the slot is shown in FIG.
5B. Thus, the connection between the main body C and the process
kit 14 is completed.
In the position shown in FIG. 5B, a high voltage can be applied to
the charger 4 and the developing roller 5a through the connectors
34 and 26 and through the connectors 35 and 26 respectively from a
voltage source (not shown) on the main body C as desired and in a
determined timing. Also, the rotating force of the motor M on the
main body C can be transmitted to the disk 29 on the process kit 14
through the drum gear driving gear 30, drum gear 31 and kit driver
pin 32 to rotate the photosensitive drum 3.
In mounting the process kit 14, the stopper pin 28 engages in an
elongate slot 36 on the main body C to serve as a positioning pin.
After mounting the kit, the stopper pin 28 prevents the kit from
being rotated by the rotating force of the driver pin 32 on the
drum gear during operation. In FIG. 5, 33 is a spring fixed on the
gear shaft 33. After mounting the process kit, the spring 38 is in
contact with the drum 3 and serves as an electrode for maintaining
the drum 3 at ground potential.
FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the rotating force transmission from
the connection member 25 to the developing electrode roller 5a.
The disk 29 of the driving connection member 25 has a gear 39
integrally formed therewith. The gear 39 is in mesh with a gear 40
integrally formed with the developing roller 5a. When the disk 29
is driven into rotation by the rotating force transmitted from the
main body in the manner as described above in connection with FIG.
5, the developing roller 5a is also rotated with the rotation of
the disk.
As readily understood from the foregoing, the process kit shown in
the above is very easy to mount in and demount from the main bod of
the machine. When the process kit comes to the end of its useful
time, any user can replace it by new one without any long
interruption of the copying operation. Furthermore, it is possible
to use one and the same main machine for different purposes by
suitably selecting one kit among many different types of process
kits according to the purpose for which the user intends to use the
machine. For example, there may be prepared a kit for color
development, a kit for reproduction of photograph with improved
reproducibility of half-tone and a kit for copy making only of
documents with improved edge effect. Users can keep these various
kits in stock for exchange.
However, the use of such easily detachable and easily exchangeable
process kits has a problem of increasing the posibility of damage
on the kit in handling. The frequency of such case is increased
where the handling of the process kit is done outside of the main
machine and by those persons who are unfamiliar to it. In carrying
the kit, the user may bump it against a rigid object such as a wall
or may drop it down on the floor. Accordingly, the danger of damage
is enhanced. This will bring about heavy loss in particular when
the driving connection part is damaged by such accident. In the
case of such process kit which has a driving connection part so
formed as to receive the driving power from one and single driving
source as in the case of the above embodiment, the breaking of the
driving connection part renders the total process kit useless. In
the case of such process kit in which the driving connection part
is directly connected with a photosensitive drum, the impact
applied to the connection part by accident will render the rotation
axis of the drum eccentric, which has an adverse effect on the
image formation.
According to the invention, the above problem is solved by
arranging protective projecting parts around the driving connection
part.
In the embodiment previously described, the stopper pin 28 and the
voltage connectors 26 and 27 are arranged around the connection
member 25. These members 28, 26 and 27 project outwardly beyond the
top level of the connector member 25. These projecting members form
projections for protecting the connection member 25 against damage.
To this end, as shown in FIG. 7, the pair of connectors 26 and 27
are arranged at the two opposite sides of the connection member 25
with the latter being sandwiched in between the two connectors 26
and 27. The angular distance between two projections, for example,
between 26 and 27 relative to the center of rotation of the
connection member 25 is more than 120 degrees.
With this arrangement, even when the process kit is accidentally
struck against any rigid object such as a wall or the like, the
connection member 25 can be protected against damage by means of
the projections around the connection member. When the side wall of
the kit frame 24 having the connection member 25 provided thereon
is accidentally struck against any rigid object, the projecting
connectors 26, 27 or pin 28 strike against the object but the
connection member 25 never contacts with the rigid object. Thus,
the connection member 25 is protected by the projections formed by
the connectors 26, 27 and pin 28.
The result of our experiments has shown that the angular distance
between two projections 26 and 27, 26 and 28 or 27 and 28 looking
from the center of rotation of the connection member 25 should be
larger than 120 degrees and that if the angular distance is less
than 120 degrees as shown in FIG. 8 wherein the connection member
25 can not lie between two projections, then it is impossible to
obtain any sufficient effect to protect the connection member
against damage. In the case of arrangement as shown in FIG. 7 where
the angular distance between the connector 27 and the pin 28 is
larger than 120 degrees, there is obtained a sufficiently large
protection effect. The angular relation herein referred to should
be understood to denote the smaller one of two angles which two
projections can form relative to the rotation center of the
connection member 25.
In this manner, according to the present invention, very effective
safety means for protecting the driving connection part against
damage can be provided in a simple manner by arranging two or more
projections around the connection part and at an angular distance
larger than 120 degrees relative to the rotation center of the
driving connection means which lies on one side surface of the
process kit and is connected with the photosensitive drum. Of
course, three or more such protective projections may be provided
within the angular area larger than 120 degrees to obtain a further
improved effect to protect the connection part against damage.
FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the protection of the driving
connection member 25 attained by the above embodiment. In the above
shown embodiment, the protective projections are formed by the
connectors 26, 27 and pin 28 projecting beyond the level of the
connection member 25 and arranged around it on the same side wall
24e of the kit frame. After drawing out the kit 14 from the main
body of a copying machine, the kit 14 may be placed or dropped down
on a surface 41 of an object such as a desk with the side wall 24e
down as illustrated in FIG. 9. In this case, the connection member
25 does not contact with the surface 4. It is contained safely
within the space between the projecting connectors and the edge 24h
of the frame 24. FIG. 9 also shows that even when the connection
part 25 is so formed as to project a little from the wall surface
24e, the connection part can sufficiently be protected against
direct contact with the surface 41 of an object such as desk or
floor. Considering all possible cases where the process kit 14 is
placed or dropped on the flat surface 41 with the side wall 24e of
the frame down, a user can describe an envelope by binding the
contact points of the projections and frame edges with the surface
41. FIG. 10 shows such an envelope 42. So long as the connection
part 25 is contained within the envelope 42, there occurs no direct
contact between the connection part 25 and the surface 41 no matter
of the direction in which the process kit 14 is placed on the
surface 41.
Thus, the arrangement according to the invention prevents the
driving connection member 25 from being damaged by its contact with
any rigid object such as a desk or wall. Also, it prevents the
photosensitive drum from being rendered eccentric by any shock as
applied to it through the connection member.
As readily understood from the foregoing, the present invention has
many effects and advantages.
An effective protection means for the connection part is provided
by arranging power supply connectors, positioning pin and/or
stopper pin in the form of projection around the connection part of
a process kit. Even when the process kit is struck against a desk
or a wall at the side wall of the frame on which the connection
part is provided, the projections arranged around the connection
part protect it against damage. Also, even if a user drops the
process kit on any rigid object with said side wall surface down,
no impact can be applied directly to the contact member.
As the connection part is protected against damage, all of the
troubles caused by the damage on the connection part are completely
eliminated according to the invention. Examples of troubles which
may be caused by damage on the connection part and which can be
eliminated by the arrangement of the invention are: inability to
transmit the driving force from the main body to the process kit;
irregular or disturbed driving of the photosensitive drum which in
turn reduces the quality of formed images; dislocation of the
rotation center of the photosensitive drum with which it is no
longer possible to form sharp and clear images, and totally
disordered operation. In summary, the present invention lessens the
possibility that the process kit may be rendered useless in vain by
man's careless handling of it before its useful life expires.
The presence of projections on the end surface of the process kit
has an additional effect to prevent erroneous insertion of the
process into the main body from the wrong direction. Furthermore,
such projections serve also as a kind of precaution against the
process kit being put on a desk or on a floor with its side surface
down. Since the above shown process kit has protective projections
on the inner side end wall of the kit frame and a hand grip on the
outer side end wall as viewed in the direction of insertion, a user
hesitates to put the kit on a desk or a floor with the side down. A
user will usually place it on the desk or floor with another side
surface down on which no projection exists. This is of importance
in particular when the process kit contains a developing device
and/or cleaning means. As the developing device and the cleaning
device contain therein fluid toner, if the process kit is put on
desk or floor with its side end surface down, that is, vertically,
then the toner will flow toward one side of the toner container and
accumulate together there in an unbalanced state. In the worst
case, the toner flows over the container and is scattered in the
kit. On the photosensitive drum there may be produced such area
where developing of image or cleaning of toner is no longer
possible. The protective projections on the inner side end and the
projection of hand grip on the outer side end, therefore, serve
also to prevent such trouble relating to toner. The presence of the
handle 24 of the kit (FIG. 2) brings about an especially high
effect for this purpose.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood
that various changes and modifications may be made therein within
the scope of the present invention.
For example, when the protective projections are formed making use
of the power supply connectors, the number of the connectors may
vary according to the image forming process for which the process
kit is used or according to the content of processing means then
used. It is not always necessary for the protective projections to
have the same height. The thing essential for the protective
projections is to have a sufficient height enough to attain the
purpose of protecting the driving connection part against damage.
Similarly, it is not always necessary for the side end surface of
the process kit on which the projections are provided to be
perfectly flat.
In the above embodiment, processing means contained in the process
kit has been shown and described to include a charger, a developing
device and cleaning means. However, it is to be understood that
process means to be contained in a process kit according to the
invention may comprise other components. Also, the kind of machine
to which the process kit according to the invention is applicable
is never limited to copying machines only. It is applicable to
other types of image forming apparatus such as recorder and
facsimile machines.
* * * * *